New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-09-04
DEATH AMONG THE ALPS.
TOURISTS LURED TO DESTRUCTION BY
MYSTERIOUS FASCINATION.


MYSTERIOUS FASCINATION.
ZURICH. August l9.
The season of 1887 will be remembered ss oho
especially prolific in fatal accidents to Aipihe
tourists. Scarcely week passes that does no'
bring report of one more lives having peeh e"oii
feed to the insatiate desire to scale one Oh the
giddy peaks in the Dernese Overland or the En-
gadine, and strange to say each accident Duo
serves to increase the army OF climbers, so thao
finally the authorities In the Canton Wallis have
found it necessary to take active measures TO con-
troll the rush Of strangers, who, emboldened Dy
recent experiences are aocking up into the glaciers
without guides.
Early in July the English pastor at Samaden.
in the Engadine, q young man OF twenty-six OF
whereabouts, made an ascent with one companion
to the neighboring glacier. He fell into an Ice
cleft and was wedged In so tightly In sight OF his
friend that all the latters efforts TO draw him out
proved futile The companion fastened to sum-
mon help, but the distance was great and 1t was
only three hours later that he returned with men
and axes. 1t was too late. The unfortunate
clergyman WAS dead, frozen to death.
Only last week party Of five, four men and
young woman, went up from Chur to the top or
the Fallxniss to gather edelweiss. They reached
the summit in safety, gathered quantity OF the
precious flower which was tOcost them so dear'
and started to return early in the afternoon. oh
the way down the young girl, Elise Hepf, shipped
and lost her footing at point where the noun
tain sloped of to an abrupt precipice. One OF
the men caught her hand, but also lost his loot
hold and was pulled after her. another OF the
men In endeavoring to save the first two was also
dragged down, and all three rolled over the preci
A. 4l..nA
the presence of mind TO cry out as he was falling
Hurry for help; you will find us below" The
two survivors managed to pick their way down
to the base of the precipice, but succor was VAIN
The girl and her would-be rescuer were both dead
and Bonal expired a few minutes later.
Last Saturday Herr Sulzer, merchant Of this
city. in company with Professor Ritter, Of the
Zurich Polytechnic School,, was making an ascent
Of the Sanetsch Pass, from the southern,or Canton
Wallis, side He was an exert climber, accus-
toned to Alpine tours, yet the fatal chance
wo I'd have 1t, he met his death at point and
from q cause which gave no suggestion oil
Danger They were In the vicinity of the Pont
Neuf when the Professor, who was pushing on
ahead heard an exclamation from Sulzer, ana
turned around barely In time to see him Toll
over the dizzy precipice, close to which the path
passed. IL had been raining, the way was slippery
the unfortunate man had tripped in a wild vine
lying across his way, and 1t cost him his lfe HIS
body was recovered at the base Of the cliff and
brought home to Zurich for burial.
But the catastrophes have related sink into
comparative insignincance beside the wholesale
disaster Gu the Jungfrau four weeks ago, when an
entire party OF six young men, after reaching the
summit ard passing the night there, missed their
way on attempting to descend early next morning
and fell, bound together, over preclpice ooo
feet high 10 the Aetch glacier below, where thelr
bodies were found half-buried in the snow week
later The story of this horrible accident has enc-
tied an exclamation OF pain and horror through
out all Switzerland The six victims were all
educated Intelligent men with apparently bright
futures before them All of them, with one ex-
ception, were under thirty, and half OF them under
twenty five years OF age, yet every one OF them
had already achieved some excellence In his
especial profession or calling. Carl Ziegier, the
oldest OF the rarity was known and beloved as
Zurich school-teachcr, and was Inspector OF Gym
nastics In the public schools OF this district d.
Alexander Wettstein was an advanced student In
natural history and although only twenty-sx
years old, q scientist Of recognized merit; his
brother, Henry Wettstein, was employed In the
Department OF Commerce and Agriculture at
Berne, had studied the subject Of sea fauna o.
Nlarscilles was fine linguist and an accomplished
scholar. GottfrIed Kuhn wac o schoo-teacher at
Glntus, o man Of great phy>icol strength, cool
ness and endurance, renowned gymnast ana en-
Alpine climber. lie was moreover
man OF mind and heart il we Judge lin from the
following translation OF bus last letter, written to
his aged parents in Winterthur just before depart
ing on the fatal Journey. tIc wrote.
Believe mo- 1t Is beautiful upon these heights there
exists here an entirely different spirit. sOaotnn a
lofty and mighty speaks to us from Natuo anu o no
thing OF this spirit passes over into that Oh nun WY
abIdcs here Mountain climbing rs loiiow ~ Is 10
idle bravado 1 am not that vain; no, | iono" ~
"ecause It gives me 10y and because gain scientific
.ancsr e TO and incentives 70 this that or the
other or TO find amusement but prefer 70 rauo and
where oae feels FREQ.
The two younger lnemters Of the party were
Wilhelm Bar also Zurich schooi tca'her' 'i''
Gustav Bdcr young apothecary iii Berhe' VINO
had already taken a prize for theSis on inc
blood and passed highly creditioic "oVerhihe"'
examination.
Snch then was the party OF six who one after
noon reached Lauterbru men, put up Ut INC 49,
staubbsch and began preparations for mountain
,our To inquiries whittier they were pound they
rave evasive replies At table discussion arose
between them on tue pueouVh W
ono NJ the party repeatedly demanded that guioo
,,s engaged he was in the minority, and at
q m the six started of alone. carving two ice.
uicks q long rope two LOttles OF wine' nan
bottle of ognac, two cans of tongue an omciet.e
Tor sIx roast -four for soup for twelve persons
twelve eggs and six portions OF meat. AS tne
Guides again offered their services ana were re-
fused, one Of them remarked warninsV 70 'ne nc.
parting tourists; only be careiui thas we ao
hor. 20 nick YOU all up together In the Roththal'
Needless of this warning they pushed on; and the
people in the valley, alarmed and uneasy. AZ
once set about making inquiries as to the parVs
pos5ible destination. An explanation came wnen
r. was asertained at the telegram once that Tue
,'.r,u haa cont dispatch from Iauterbrunnen TO
a on the southern side of the Junsfrau
directing the landlord there to have supply u
provisions deposited ready for them ln tne Eon,
cordia hut on the Aletch glacier. ms soiyeu
The nrobIem OF their Intentions and showed tnas
thew had set out on the daring undertaking Vi
h